Ways to Make Your Home Eco-Friendly

Global warming, climate change, and environmental awareness are serious topics that are having a major impact on us in recent years. Houses are now being built according to green standards; electronic devices, heating systems, lighting, and even bathroom components are all being modified to be eco-friendly.

In order to help our environment, we can make several eco-friendly changes to our homes. I know it can seem a little daunting to make so many changes, but it is not difficult at all, and making these changes has many benefits including saving money and energy.

Harnessing the Sun’s Power through solar panels

Solar panels are another great way to make a house more eco-friendly. These panels can be installed for a reasonable price, and they help save money in the end. For solar panels Perth, Be sure to check out the generous government subsidies while they’re still available. Installing several solar panels on the roof of a house can produce electricity to run several appliances. It will not provide electricity for everything, but it can power quite a lot of items in the home.

Just like not all solar panels are credited equal, not all solar power companies are cut from the same cloth so to speak. Here’s a great list of 10 questions for solar installers you should ask before committing to buy anything from them.

Solar panels are great for the environment because they utilize the renewable energy of the sun, instead using the typical power sources that add carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. I especially like solar panels because they do not produce any pollution. Many other energy sources send greenhouse gases and even carcinogens into the air, but solar panels do not produce any toxic gases.

Tread Carefully

Environmentally friendly flooring options have increased in the past few years. These flooring options are a great way to go green, and there are many benefits to installing each one of them.

I’ve found that cork flooring is a fantastic flooring option that is very eco-friendly. Cork trees can be harvested often, and this frequent harvesting causes no negative environmental consequences. In fact, the cork needs to be harvested from the tree to keep it from dying. Because of this, cork is a renewable resource. We can do both the environment and the cork tree a favor by installing cork flooring in our home.

Cork flooring has many benefits above and beyond being eco-friendly. Cork flooring is durable, fire-resistant, and is a breeze to clean. In addition, cork flooring resists insects and is no danger at all because it is non-toxic.

Another great option for eco-friendly flooring is bamboo. Bamboo flooring is renewable, because bamboo grows very fast and can be harvested every five to seven years. Bamboo flooring has many benefits as well. It is resistant to water and very durable. It is also easy to clean and very resistant to rotting. I appreciate the fact that eco-friendly flooring choices have so many benefits. Remember you have an impact, so make sure your timber flooring provider protect this natural resource with a replanting programme.

Lighting the Way to Change

Another way we can make our home more eco-friendly is by changing our light globes. Incandescent lights waste a lot of energy and have a short lifespan. Environmentally friendly lighting includes LED lights and compact fluorescent lights. Both use much less energy than incandescent bulbs; CFL uses up to 75 percent less energy, and LED lights can use up to 85 percent less energy. This energy savings can also help save money and the environment. Moreover, LED and CFL lights have a much longer lifespan than incandescent bulbs; this is better for the environment because less bulbs are placed in landfills, and waste and pollution decrease dramatically.

Another great eco-friendly lighting tip is to make use of the sun’s light by opening windows. On a bright, sunny day, I enjoy pulling back the curtains or blinds and letting the sun naturally brighten up the room. This natural light helps you use less energy

Eco-Friendly Gadgets Galore

More and more eco-friendly devices are being manufactured these days. When we buy and use these devices, we are helping the environment and making our home much more eco-friendly. There is a variety of useful devices from which to choose.

Wind up devices are gaining popularity; all you have to do is wind up the device for a small amount of time, and that winding will generate energy that the device can use to operate. For example, there are wind-up mp3 players that you can wind up for sixty seconds; this simple, easy winding will give the player the energy it needs to play music for 20 minutes. With this device you don’t have to plug it in and waste energy. I’m a huge music fan, so it ends up saving me a fair amount of energy usage, and I’m sure it can save you a good amount as well.

Another useful, energy-saving gadget is a wind-up lantern. These lanterns just need a reasonable amount of winding to give ample light to any location, all without need for electricity. Speaking of when the electricity goes out, a generator in Perth can come in very handy indeed. Looks for a reliable brand that won’t let you down.

These are just a couple of the many fantastic energy-saving gadgets that can transform your house into an eco-friendly residence.

Saving Water to Save the Environment

Water is used for all sorts of things in our homes. From toilets to water heaters, it’s a vital resource. There are several ways to save water and have an eco-friendly home.

Install water saving products such as:

• Water Saving Showerhead: Can save up to 20 litres per person, each time you shower.
• Shower Timers: If you cut your shower from 7 minutes to 4 minutes you’ll save around 27 litres.
• Flow Restrictors: Restrict water flow and you could save 9 litres per minute.
• Eco-friendly Toilet: Use less water per flush and toilets with dual-flush capabilities.
• Eco-friendly Water Heater: When we have to use hot water, a large amount of energy is expended; in fact, heating water is a very large energy expense, the third largest for households. Tankless water heaters only heat the required amount of water instead of heating a large amount of water each time without regard to the amount that is actually needed.

Installing Better Insulation

A house that is too hot or too cold is uncomfortable. Traditional insulation usually has gaps that can cause the house to lack sufficient insulation. This can cause a lot more energy to be wasted when heating or cooling a poorly-insulated house.

An effective solution to this problem is to upgrade your insulation to an eco-friendly alternative such as wet-spray cellulose insulation. This environmentally-friendly insulation is made from paper-pulp, and it can be sprayed almost everywhere. This insulation leaves no gaps and thoroughly insulates the house, causing much less energy to be used. Moreover, it is made from recycled materials which helps the environment.

Eco-Friendly Windows

A lot of people don’t realize that windows are actually a major cause of energy loss for homes. This problem can be corrected by replacing the windows with a special type of glass. This glass is called low-e glass, and it helps insulate the house more thoroughly, and it also keeps out a lot of UV radiation and excess heat. This translates to energy savings.

I know it can be hard to decide where to start when it comes to making eco-friendly choices for your home. These changes can be done over time, and each change is bound to offer many benefits beyond being environmentally friendly. From solar panels to bamboo flooring, there are endless eco-friendly possibilities.